Saturday, May 24, 2014

Gregory Crawford On Basketball, May 24th, 2014

By Gregory Crawford---TV, Print and Radio Basketball Analyst ---twitter @wchoops @crawssportsbizWayne Tinkle----Yes, most people would say it was a surprise that Wayne Tinkle last week was named the new men's coach of the Oregon State Beavers. After all, few basketball fans follow the Big Sky Conference, where Tinkle played, was an assistant coach and head coach for the Montana Grizzlies, long time members of the Big Sky Conference.

It is safe to say Tinkle earned the right to be the Oregon State coach. He is not only a tremendous coach, but he is an engaged person. Perhaps eye contact is overrated often, but being engaged is underrated. No matter who Tinkle is talking with, or the stature of the person, Tinkle is engaged.

As most basketball fans do know, for the last 25 years Oregon State men's basketball has been in disarray and going not very far. No appearances in the NCAA tournament since 1990 says it all. It is ironic that when Craig Robinson was let go the first week in May, he has without question been the best basketball coach at Oregon State since the heyday years of the great Ralph Miller.

No question the pressure will be on Tinkle to win and win big. Oregon State fans are starved for a winner and so is the prestigious basketball alumni with the likes of A.C. Green, Mel Counts, Gary Payton, Charlie Sitton and Steve Johnson, just to name a few.

So the bottom line, how will Tinkle do at Oregon State? I think he will do really well, as matter of fact better than well. For the record, I think Tinkle will get the Beavers to the NCAA tournament in his third year on the job. I also think, as noted above, boosters will really be impressed and will get behind the program. And something which has not been talked about much by anyone, Tinkle will recruit the Northwest big time, as he has done at Montana and he starts with a leg up, knowing all the coaches.

If you are an Oregon State basketball fan who has wallowed in mediocrity for 25 years, it is time to get out of the mud. You have a good man and good person steering the ship right now, get behind him, cause Wayne Tinkle will win big at Oregon State and bring back the Beavers back to prominence.

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